Mechanism for and method of producing receptacles



H. L. EVANS 2,259,301 MECHANISM FOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING RECEPTACLES Oct; 14, 1941.

Filed Jan. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTOR NEY.

' HaJJyZ.E%ns, BY Z -Oct. 14, 1941. H1 L. EVANS A 2,259,301

MECHANISM FOR AND METHOD OF PRODUCING RECEPTACLES Filed Jan. 17, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 14, 1941 UNITED MECHANISM T FOR.. AND MET-HOD'T OE PRIDE- DUCINGiRECE PTAGEES" Harry L. Ewans;.Newnort, Rik,assignontoilnitedz States. Automatics Box Machinery; Go

Roslindale, Mass.:, a=.,corporati on -of-Massachus.

setts.

Application J anuary- 17, 1939; scrial Nos-25'L375 8 Glaims. (Cl. 113*.46')

adapted to provide the" desired hollow internah' shape of the ultimate receptacle.

The invention has for ar further objectto' provide a method ofmaking receptacles fromductile sheet material comprising; stretching one or more portions of the area ofthesheet- 15- material blank into 'fixed cavo-relievo-form; then folding the sheet-materia1 so shaped-uponitself', or otherwise superposing' sections thereof: so as" to provide by the cavo-relievoportionor'portions a hollow receptacle interior: of predetermined size and shape, and then joining meetingrmah ginal portions of the thusfoldedor-superposed? material to provide closure seams; or, joints to complete the receptacle.

The invention also has foran object'to provide novel means for stretchingthej desiredareas of the receptacle material into performed;v cavo= relievo formations.

Other objects of this invention, not at this" time more particularly enumerated; will be; comprehended in the following detailed description of the same.

An illustrative embodiment ofthenovelreceptacle according to this invention, as wellj'assteps. in the. novel method, of producing the same;...are.. shown in the accompanying. drawings. inmvhich;

Fig. 1 is a schematic view illustrating, certain. steps in the method of producing the novel receptacle, certain of the mechanismsmsed-inltheeperr formance of said steps being; shownrinisectiong. Fig. 2' is a plan viewof the, sheet'materialaasa preformed to provide cavo-relievoportions: Dre paratory to making uptherecep tacles; .FigrB islet top edge view. of the preformed; material... initially foldedinto receptacle; form; Fig; 4233a face. view of the. initially folded: preformedi material drawn on an enlarged scale; and Fig.: 5 is a transverse sectional-viewoi thesame:

or-jointing of" thereceptacle sides; and Fig. 9

a transverse sectional- View thereof;

Fig. 10 is a faceview ofthe reoeptacleshowing: a met-hodxot finally closing-its open :end or mouth;

: and Fig. 11- is a ver-tieal longitudinal' sectional? view of thethusclosedand completed-receptacle.

Similar characters: of reference A are employed: inithe above-deseribed views, toz-indicate corre spondingpart'se Thereceptacle, aceordingtO-tliis: invention; is. produced from ductile sheet material, that is: from a flexibl'e material capable ut lising stretched into -apredetermined desired form or shape. and: also ioapable 1. 0t being folded for: desired disposi-i tionofthe receptacle parts, and? for seaming: or-joining tlie -latter in I'GGBPtQCIGJ forming. relation; One type -of ductilesheet material, suiteablefor use in making: up the receptacle p.ur-- suant tea the novel methodaccording. to this:

invention; is a metallicfoi-l; suchaswtin foil,-

aluminum foil: or the like. Preferably the; ductile sheetf. material made-up into. a. roll; (not: shown) ofl suitable width. from; which the: same: drawm and: thereupon: preformed; the: same: being; out... into lengths-g or; blanks suitable. for: forming the: ultimate: receptacles; either beiorezon aiterr nreformina hereof Th pera.- tiOIlSzOf feeding; the sheet material, ,Dreforming; thegsame; .andrthen manipulating it to form the ultimate receptacles may;- ber carried; on continuaously='by; suitable mechanical agencies if desired.

According; to the method of 1 this. invention; the sheet material blank is; subjected to rpreliminary v preforming: operation whereby; desired areas.-

thereof. are" stretched and; drawn: out;, force.

applied: perpendicular to; the planethereof; so. to ,produce, fixed cavo-relievo. sections located.- within and intermediate. its marginal limits. which. when the open: sides. thereof areclosedi overby cooperating superposed, sectionsof mateinterior area or areas desiredto be preformed.

is a face view of the=f0lded=p between and. subject" to; the cooperative action.

material, showing a seaming-on jointingof thesidesof the receptacle; and'Fig. 7 is a trans-verse sectional view thereof;

Fig. 8 is a face-viewof the rowed: p eformed? of male and female stretching and; forming means. In Fig. 1 of the drawings a means; of such' character is' shown; thesamebeing'arranged to stretchingly= preform spaced areas" within a material showing-an optional"additional seaming blank forming-length of'the sheet material; to

preforming means comprises a stationary frame or block I having in its under face longitudinally spaced cavities 2 of peripheral shape adapted to define the peripheral limits and out-. line shape desired to be given to preformedsections or areas of the receptacle blank. The portions of the frame or block 'I which skirt said cavities provide clamp sections 3 to engage the top faces of the sheet material blank marginal to the areas thereof to be preformed. Vertically of the springs 6, the male stretcher members I5 are raised against the tension of the springs I8, the sheet material F is, by the action of feed rolls 2223, drawn from the source of supply and advanced between the stationary frame or block I and the lowered clamp and female stretcher block 5, and then stopped subject to the action of the male and female stretcher means. Preparatory to the stretching and preforming operation of said male and female stretcher means, the cam 9 first releases the block 5 for upward movement under the thrust movable on supporting rods 4, dependent from i 7 said stationary frame or block I, is a combined movable clamp and female stretcher block 5,

which is yield-ably urged by compression springs 6 toward said stationary frame or block I. Said block 5 is provided in its top face with longitudinally. spaced cavities I constituting female stretcher means. Said cavities I correspond; in peripheral shape to the peripheral shapes of the stationary frame or block cavities 2, and thus also to the peripheral limits and outline shape desired to be given to the preformedsections or areas of the receptacle blank. The portions of said clamp-and stretcher block 5 which skirt its said cavitiesl provide, clamp, sections 8 to engage the bottom faces ofthe sheet material blank marginal to the areas thereof to be ,pre

formed; thus being cooperative, at proper times with the clamp sections 3 of said stationary frame or block I. The operation of said block 5 may be controlled by. a rotatable cam ,9 fixed on a drive shaft 3., Said block 5 is provided with dependent slotted arms II throughwhich shaft I .extends, ,and in connection with the free ends of which is carried a roller I2. cooperative with said cam 9. Provided in connection with said stationary frameor block I, perpendicular to the cavities 2, are guideway means I3 to slidably support plunger rods I4, upon' the lowerends ofwhich are affixed..male stretcher members I5.. Said stretcher members I respectively lie within the cavities 2, and, while substantially conforming in pe'ripheralshape to the peripheral shape of said cavities 2 and-of the cavities I of the clamp and stretcher block 5 are of lessall over dimension so as toprovidematerial stretching clearance intermediate the peripheries thereof and the peripheries of said cavities I- of the clamp and stretcher block 5. Said plunger rods I4v are afiixed by their upper end portionsto a cross head I5. Said cross head I5 is slidably supported on upstanding sup- Such operation of said male stretcher members I5 maybe controlled by rotatable cams jl9 mounted on and actuated by said drive shaft I0, which cams, to this end, cooperate with rollers.

carried by iarms 2I dependent'ffrom said cross-head I6.

When, by operation or. the cams-9 and 19.

respectively, the combinedlclamp and female stretcher block 5 is lowered againstthe tension of the springs 6, thereby engaging the longitudinalside areas M and transverse areas M of gripping and holding such marginal areas against both bodily shift and stretch. When the material is thus gripped, the cam I9 operates to release the male stretcher members I5 for downward movement under the thrust of the springs I8. The downward thrust of said male stretcher members I5 engages the bottom faces thereof with underlying portions of the material F freely extending intermediate the cavities 3 and I, thereby carrying the same downward into engagement with the bottoms of the cavities I, andthus stretching those portions of the material extending across the clearance spaces between the peripheries of said cavities I and the peripheries of said male stretcher members I5, whereby angular walls W are formed to define and fix the desired preformed cavo-relievo sections C offset from the plane of the material F.

Upon completion of the preformed cavo-relievo sections C, the male stretcher mmebers I5 and the combined clamp and female stretcher block 5 are retracted by the respective cams I9 and 9 to deliver to the'latter a succeeding portion of the material F for like treatment.

It is desirable, when preforming a blank of the material F with opposable preformed cavorelievo sections C, to provide at the same time means for scoring the transverse areas M intermediate said sections to provide a preformed score S for facilitating the folding of the preformed blank upon itself so as to register the cavo-relievo sections C thereof in opposed relation.

As shown in Fig. 1, suitable shear means 24 is provided for severing a preformed blank from the run of the material F preparatory to folding the blank and thereafter completing the recep tacle forming operations. 7

The severed preformed blank is delivered to folding means comprising suitable opposed folder guide elements 25 and a cooperating reciprocable folder blade 26. The preformed blank is delivered onto the folder guide elements 25 and beneath the initially raised folder blade 26, with its preformed score S aligned beneath the latter.

When the preformed blank is thus positioned,'

the folder blade 26 'is caused to descend, thus carrying the blank downward between the opposed downwardly curved ends 21 of the guide elements 25, thereby folding the blank upon itself so. as to register the open faces of the cavorelievo sections C in opposition, and at the same time bringing the fiat marginal areas M and M of the blank into meeting relation (see Figs. 3, 4 and 5) The opposed cavo-relievo sections C,

when'thus. brought together; establish: an: interior;

chamber of. desired? predetermined"; shape; and: capacity.v

In a' simple form. of; receptacle; the. meeting fiat marginal areas may be merely; adhesively' secured togethen To provide morerrHgged. side.

closing joints orseams: for the. receptacle; espe cially when areceptacle of; liquid and-gaszproof. characteristics is. desired;.. the; memingi flat mar:- ginal areas M are'doubledi'on folded: back upon. themselves. to provide overlapping-3' side, closure; seams or joints J, as. shown in: Figs; 6 and; 7.. Such. seamspor. joints; may. be .formedz-byxa single; overlappingfoldasin the case; of" said. seams; or. jointsJ shown in-Eigs. (ix-and 7; orrthezsame. may be formed? by azpluralitylofi successively; overs lapped folds, as in. the case of; the-aseams orjoints J shown in.Figs. 8 and; 9. If desired,.the:laps:

of the seam or joint; folds-.may: be. additionallyadhered. by. any suitablemeans; of: adhesion or: adhesive agent, to thereby further: assure the;

seal and strength, of the seamsz. or. joints.

The novel receptacle producedgbjt the method. procedure above describedmay, bearfilled; with a.

desired content through its:op.err top;;end;.which may easily be spread open: for: such. purpose.

After, the receptacle is. filled said: top endmay.

be closed .in any suitable-manner, but L preferably by, an overlapped fold. seam; or; joint;- J.. ,',sim-il-ar: in kind to the side: seams; or. joints above described.

While the method procedure above setforth contemplates the'provision; in a foldable blank of ductile material, of spaced. preformed cavorelievo sections adapted to bebrought-to ether in opposed relation by folding the blank uponitself, it will be understood: that, if desired;. the

blank may be preform-edtorprovide but. asingle cavo-relievo sectionv C,.theope-n side; of which: may be closed. to form the; receptacle: interior:-

by folding thereover the remaining: flat 1 or non:

preformed section of therblank. It: will alsogber. understood, that the receptacle: may be: 11131165 by preforming separate non-foldableblank sece tions of the sheet material, and thereafter superposing and joining the same to form the ultimate receptacle.

I am aware that many changes could be made in the steps of the method procedure and in the detail construction of the resultant receptacle, and that many apparently widely difierent embodiments of the features of this invention could be made without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the following claims. It is therefore intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. In a method of making receptacles from ductile sheet material, the steps of clamping portions of a blank composed of such material which are marginal to an included area of an end portion thereof desired to be preformed, applying force perpendicularly to a central portion of said included area which is of reduced area as compared with the total included area to thereby depress said central portion and stretch the free portions of said included area which lie outwardly of said central portion thereof whereby to preform a fixed cavo-relievo section adapted to define and bound the interior space of the ultimate receptacle, then folding the other end portion of said blank over said first mentioned end portion thereof to thereby close theiopen side of. said:cavoer.elievo section, and? thereafter: joining. the: meeting. marginal parts. of... said folded:= together: end. portions to; complete: the receptacle;

In. a method: of: making receptacles from ductile sheet material, the steps .of clamping portionszof'a blank composed 'OfISllCh material which are marginal:to:two;spaced apart included. areas: thereof. to; be preformed-,Jthen separately apply-' ing; forceperpendicularly: to. central portions of: said in'cludedi: areas. which. are of: reduced areas; as. compared; with: the. total included areas to.

therebydepresstsaid central portions andstretch free out. portions of. saidv respective. included areas .whichliezoutwardly of said central portions.

thereof whereby tov preform. said areas into icavorelievo: sections; then transversely folding, the. blank s01. preformed; centrally. through the, fiat. section. intermediate: said cavo-relievo sections. to bring the hollow interiors of the latter into.

opposed closed-togetherrelationand the outlying flatlmarginal portions: into meeting relation, and

thereafter-joining. said meeting marginal portions. to. complete the receptacle.

3; In.- a method ofmaking receptacles from ductile sheet material, the steps of clamping portionsof a blank composed .of suchmaterial which are marginalto two spaced. apartincluded. areas.

thereof 'to .bepreformed, then. separately applying forcezperpendicularly to, centralsportions of said includedn-areas which are. of reducedareasas.

compared withthetotal included.=areas to thereby. depress said central. portionv andrstretch free portions. of said-i respectiveyincluded areas which lie:- outwardly: of said central; portions thereof whereby. to preform said; areas. intocavo -relievo sections, then. transversely folding the. blank:

sorpreformed: centrally, through; the flat'. section intermediate saidt cave-relieve sectionsto bringthehollow. interiors;.;of; the latter into opposedclosed. togetherr relation: and; the. outlying. flat marginal portions, into meeting relation, and; thereafter folding said meeting marginal portions.

in .doubled .baclcrelationupon themselves to formclosure seams; tozcomplete=.;the; receptacle.

4. A method of making receptacles comprising advancing from a supply source'a web of ductile sheet material to successively provide lengths thereof from which the receptacles are to be formed, clamping portions of an advanced length of said material which are marginal to two spaced apart included areas thereof to be preformed, then applying force perpendicularly to central portions of said included areas which are of reduced area as compared with the total included areas to preform each said included area by a stretching action applied to parts thereof which lie outwardly of said central portions thereof into a fixed cavo-relievo section, then further advancing the length of thus preformed material to another position and thereupon severing the same from the web, then transversely folding the severed length of preformed material centrally between the c-avo-relievo sections to thereby bring the hollow interiors of the latter into opposed closed together relation and the surrounding flat marginal portions into meeting relation, and thereafter joining said meeting marginal portions to complete the receptacle.

5. A method of making receptacles comprising advancing from a supply source a Web of ductile sheet material to successively provide lengths thereof from which the receptacles are to be formed, clamping portions of an advanced length of said material which are marginal to two spaced apart includedareas thereof. to be preformed, then applying force perpendicularly. to central portions of said included areas which are of reduced area as compared with the total included areas to preform. each. said included area by a stretching action applied to parts thereof which lie outwardly of said central portions thereof into a fixed cavo-relievo section, then further advancing the length of thus preformed material to another position and thereupon severing the same from the web; then transversely folding thelsevered length of preformed material centrally between the cavo-relievo sections to thereby bring the hollow interiors of the latter into opposed closed together relation and the surrounding flat marginal portions intomeeting relation, and thereafter folding said meeting marginal portions in doubled back relation upon themselves to form closure seams to complete the receptacle.

6. In mechanism for preforming ductile sheet material {for the production of receptacles therefrom, a stationary block, a cooperating spring pressed female stretcher block, said blocks having opposed cavities therein of peripheral shape and dimensions corresponding to an area of material to be preformed saldblocks having meeting portions surrounding their cavities adapted to clamp therebetween theinterposed sheet material at areas thereof marginal to the area to be preformed, a spring pressed male stretcher device within the cavity of the stationary block and mounted for reciprocation in connection with the latter and in opposition to the cavity of said female stretcher block, said .male stretcher device corresponding in peripheral shape to the peripheral shape of said female stretcher block cavity but being of less areal dimension whereby, in operation, to stretch portions of material being preformed which extend between the margins of said stretcher block cavity and the margins of said male stretcher.

device, means tocontrol the spring actuated movement of said stretcher block into meeting relation to said stationary block, and additional iii) means to thereupon control the'spring actuated movement of said male stretcher device for preforming effect upon the interposed sheet material '7. In mechanism for preforming ductile sheet material for the production of receptacles therefrom, a stationary block, a cooperating spring pressed female stretcher block, said blocks each having a pair of spaced apart cavities therein of peripheral shape and dimensions corresponding to spaced areas of material to be preformed, the cavities of said blocks being opposed, said blocks having meeting portions surrounding their cavities adapted to clamp therebetween the interposed sheet material at areas thereof marginal to the areas to be preformed, a pair of spring pressed male stretcher devices respectively disposed within the cavities of said stationary block and mounted for reciprocation in connection with the latter and in opposition respectively to the respective cavities of said female stretcher block, said male stretcher devices corresponding in peripheral shape to the peripheral shapes of the opposed cavities of said stationary and female stretcher blocks but being of less areal dimensions whereby, in operation, to stretch portions of material being preformed which extend between the margins of said stretcher block cavities and the margins of the male stretcher devices cooperative therewith, driven cam means to control the spring actuated movement of said stretcher block into meeting relation to said stationary block and additional driven cam means to thereupon control the spring actuated movements of said male stretcher devices for preforming' effect upon the interposed sheet material.

8. In mechanism for preforming ductile sheet material for the production of receptacles therefrom as defined in claim '7, wherein said stationary female stretcher blocks have cooperative means between the spaced apart cavities thereof adapted to form a transverse fold score intermediate the areas of the interposed sheet material to be preformed.

HARRY L. EVANS. 

